A hernia occurs when part of an organ (usually the intestines) sticks through a weak point or tear in the thin muscular wall that holds the abdominal organs in place.
There are several types of hernias, based on where it occurs:
Inguinal hernia appears as a bulge in the groin or scrotum. This type is more common in men than women.
Femoral hernia appears as a bulge in the upper thigh. This type is more common in women than in men.
Incisional hernia can occur through a scar if you had abdominal surgery.
Umbilical hernia appears as a bulge around the belly button. It occurs when the muscle around the navel doesn't close completely.
Alternative Names
Hernia - inguinal; Inguinal hernia
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Usually, there is no obvious cause of a hernia, although they are sometimes associated with heavy lifting.
Hernias can be seen in infants and children. This can happen when the lining around the abdominal organs does not close properly before birth. About 5 out of 100 children have inguinal hernias (more boys than girls). Some may not have symptoms until adulthood.
If you have any of the following, you are more likely to develop a hernia:
Hernia repair (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Hernia repair is surgery to correct a hernia. A hernia is an abnormal bulging of internal organs, often the intestine, through a weakness in a muscular wall. Reviewer: J.A. Lee, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/16/2006
Femoral hernia (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A femoral hernia is a protrusion of a loop of the intestine through a weakening in the abdominal wall, located in the groin near the thigh. Reviewer: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/14/2006
Hiatal hernia (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Hiatal hernia is a condition in which a portion of the stomach protrudes upward into the chest, through an opening in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the sheet of muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. It is used in breathing. Reviewer: Jenifer K. Lehrer, M.D., Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/04/2006
Hiatal hernia repair (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Hiatal hernia repair is surgery to correct a defect in the diaphragm, the breathing muscle that separates the chest area from the stomach area. Reviewer: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/07/2006
Umbilical hernia (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
An umbilical hernia is an outward bulging (protrusion) of the abdominal lining or part of the abdominal organ(s) through the area around the belly button. Reviewer: Rachel A. Lewis, MD, FAAP, Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/15/2007
Umbilical hernia repair(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Umbilical hernia repair is surgery to correct an umbilical hernia, a sac of abdominal tissue that sticks through the belly button. Reviewer: Deirdre O'Reilly, M.D., M.P.H., Neonatologist, Division of Newborn Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston and Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.Date: 11/02/2007
Diaphragmatic hernia (4 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A diaphragmatic hernia is a birth defect in which there is an abnormal opening in the diaphragm, the muscle that helps you breathe. The opening allows part of the abdominal organs to move into the chest area. Reviewer: Daniel Rauch, M.D., FAAP., Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/26/2007
Diaphragmatic hernia repair - congenital (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Diaphragmatic hernia repair is surgery to correct a birth defect in which the diaphragm, the large dome-shaped muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen, fails to completely develop. A diaphragmatic hernia requires immediate surgery. Reviewer: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 06/07/2006
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (3 images)
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which food or liquid travels backwards from the stomach to the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach. This action can irritate the esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms. Reviewer: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-TorresdaleHospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/28/2006
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